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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
More Ball Games: Can changing prohibitive signs help make the UK more active?
Dotted around London are signs, thousands of them — and there is no mistaking the message, each word often starting with a capital letter as if to emphasise the point: No Ball Games. Are the messages anti-sport? The aim, at least, is to curtail play. But the eagle-eyed in the English capital will have recently noticed slight editing to some signs, a change from 'no' to 'more' and basketball hoops added underneath the now encouraging words: More Ball Games. Advertisement Behind this campaign is London Sport, a charity that is calling on policymakers in the United Kingdom to remove the 'No Ball Games' signs, to reimagine public spaces and discuss solutions that can help remove systemic barriers. Over half of London's young adults and children aren't meeting recommended activity levels, according to public body Sport England's 'Active Lives' 2023-2024 report. But this isn't just a London problem. UK Parliament statistics show that obesity levels increased from 15 per cent in 1993 to 29 per cent in 2022 in the UK. Over a quarter (28.6 per cent) of children aged two to 15 were overweight or obese in 2022-2023, with children growing up in deprived areas more likely to be obese. 'We've been speaking to different organisations about really low-cost ideas because, ideally, we would have lots more parks, sports facilities, and youth clubs for children and young people,' Emily Robinson, London Sport CEO, told The Athletic. 'But we know that money's tight, and if you want to get kids active, the easiest thing is to get them out on their doorstep, right where they are.' London Sport says more than 560,000 Londoners are put off by the No Ball Games signs, and each sign removed could make up to 80 children more active. No Ball Games signs first appeared across the UK in the 1970s, stemming from resident complaints, and are most commonly found on local authority housing estates. In 2015, the Denis Law Legacy Trust, named after the former Manchester United and Scotland great, worked with the city council to remove hundreds of signs in the former footballer's hometown of Aberdeen, Scotland. There is no system to check whether the signs are suitable or review to see if they should be taken down, London Sport says. Installed by those who own or manage the properties, including local authorities and private landlords, the signs are not legally enforceable. In south London, at the Mursell Estate in Lambeth, a sign has been amended and a hoop installed. This is where players from top-flight Super League Basketball (SLB) team London Lions filmed social media content to boost the profile of the campaign. It was shorts and T-shirt weather when The Athletic visited the estate, which consists of hundreds of flats and is situated between the busy areas of Brixton and Vauxhall. The Kia Oval, the 27,000-capacity cricket ground a 15-minute walk away, is sporting luxury compared to the estate's makeshift hoop. Advertisement No players are spotted on this midweek lunchtime. The only movement of the basketball net comes from the light breeze. Those walking through the passageway that the hoop sits on top of were using a different kind of basket as they headed to the Tesco Express on the nearby Clapham Road. Many told The Athletic they like the hoop, but said the location isn't a practical long-term solution, given the noise and vicinity to flats — even with a net attached to the stairway above to catch any inaccurate shots. A resident who did not want to be named told The Athletic: 'They should put it somewhere else. They are not experts, they are hitting the wall with every other shot. Pound, pound, pound. They came down here to do some filming, and they should have taken it with them.' Others suggested that an area to play helps give parents peace of mind that their children are close by, safe, and not driven to cause trouble because of boredom. Resident Tania Nunes, 30, said she had to take her children elsewhere to play. 'They need to improve the play area,' she said. 'I have two kids with autism, ages nine and 11, and they have nothing to do.' Market research and insight agency Opinium surveyed 4,000 adults, including 500 from London, on removing No Ball Game signs. Nearly half (40 per cent) of those from London were in favour of removing them, and 31 per cent opposed it. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told The Athletic that he supported initiatives to remove No Ball Games signs 'where possible'. 'While he recognises that sign removal isn't always possible, the Mayor believes that all young Londoners should have access to spaces and places where they can participate in sport and physical activity.' Sport and physical activity on any level can improve people's cardiovascular health, cognitive function, social skills and mental health. So, what are the long-term solutions? 'When we're building houses and developments, we must make sure from the outset that there are places for children and teenagers to play and be physically active,' says Robinson. Advertisement 'It's not just a case of putting up a little playground that only works for little kids. But also, how do we build and design areas that young people of all ages can play, exercise, and play games? And also, how do we strengthen opportunities for children at school?' As part of the ongoing More Ball Games campaign, London Sport have amended signs in Lambeth and another south London borough, Lewisham. Since 2015, they have removed 130 signs in the north London borough of Haringey, in partnership with the local authority. Some people may disapprove of the removal of No Ball Games signs but charities and organisations such as London Sport hope that by raising awareness, they can help young people of all backgrounds be active.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Raise Eyebrows With New 'Beyond Belief' Move
Prince Harry and his wife, the former Meghan Markle, have drawn a lot of attention since moving to the United States, not all of it positive. There was her Netflix lifestyle show, their joint Oprah interview, the podcasts, the social media posts, and a couple of documentaries. However, their latest move has stunned some observers. It's the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to hire Emily Robinson as their Director of Communications that is raising eyebrows. One source told the UK's Express the move is "almost beyond belief." But why? Because Robinson was involved in doing PR for the Netflix show The Crown for several seasons, Express reported. The Crown is a fictionalized series on the Royal Family, warts and all. There are debates over how authentic it is, but it chronicles everything from Queen Elizabeth II's early years to Prince Charles' relationship with Camilla and Princess Diana's struggles and death. There are inaccuracies in the show. 'Nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction,' former Prime Minister John Major said of the series, according to The Standard. Prince Harry has discussed the show before on an appearance with Stephen Colbert. "The older stuff and the more recent stuff. Yes, I do actually fact check it. Which, by the way, is another reason why it's so important that history has it right," he said to Colbert. "They don't pretend to be news – it's fictional, but it's loosely based on the truth. It gives you a rough idea about what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else – what can come from that." He added: "I'm way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family or my wife or myself." However, a source told Daily Beast that Prince William has a different take. 'It's incredibly hurtful to have his mother exploited over and over again in this tawdry fashion by Netflix," the source told Daily Beast. "He won't watch it, but he will be totally sickened by it. The Standard reported that some experts believe King Charles wasn't happy when a season of the show aired near his mother's death. In 2021, Charles told Scottish parliament, "Hello, nice to meet you all. I'm nowhere near how they portray me on Netflix," The Standard reported. Related: Meghan Markle Reveals Correct Last Name in New Netflix Show Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Raise Eyebrows With New 'Beyond Belief' Move first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2025
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Reportedly Fuels Royal Family Feud With PR Move
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to prove they are unbothered by the Royal Family's opinions. The couple, famous for butting heads with the monarchy, recently hired the same woman responsible for promoting "The Crown." The Netflix series about the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II did not sit well with the Royal Family. Sources noted that they found the series to be controversial and the PR personnel responsible for it even more problematic. However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly did not care and were more focused on the profits to be made. According to new reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently appointed Emily Robinson as their new Director of Communications. The latter was responsible for the global promotion of "The Crown" seasons three to six. The Daily Mail reported that she has twenty years of experience in entertainment publicity, brand development, and strategic communication. Before joining Harry and Meghan's team, Robinson spent almost a decade at Netflix, the couple's longtime business partner. Given her stellar résumé, sources alleged that the Sussexes were unbothered by her time on the controversial series. They were more interested in the benefits she would bring, with a source slamming them for fueling their estrangement from the Royal Family. In their words: "In the circumstances, it's almost beyond belief that Harry and Meghan would hire someone straight from 'The Crown.'" One of the reasons the Royal Family might disapprove of Harry and Meghan's new personnel stemmed from her alleged actions while working on the historical series. Robinson was reportedly a part of the team that refused to add a disclaimer on the show. The show's season five detailed King Charles' alleged plot to dethrone his mother and his eager anticipation of her abdicating the crown to him. Because Robinson's team did not add a disclaimer tag, the series painted these schemes as facts instead of fiction. Additionally, Robinson was responsible for promoting more controversial episodes, such as Harry in Nazi fancy dress, Diana's Panorama interview, and the 'ghost' Diana talking to the Queen. Sources claimed she oversaw the series' publicity "with an iron fist" and eventually became a "divisive" figure at Netflix over her behavior. Harry and Meghan's PR move comes days after the Duke of Sussex made waves for allegedly insulting the Royal Family. Sources claimed Harry had entertained the idea of discarding his royal surname. He reportedly discussed the possibility with his uncle Earl Charles Spencer, informing him of his desire to remove the Mountbatten-Windsor name and adopt his mother, Princess Diana's surname. However, his relative did not support the idea and talked him out of it. Although Harry did not go through with his alleged plan, the thought of it sparked backlash. Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich slammed him for making "another deeply divisive and emotionally charged move, stressing that he was burning more bridges with the Royal Family. This month has been marked by multiple criticisms of Prince Harry, including claims from a brand expert about the Duke of Sussex. Jack Izzard from Gallia Communications applauded Meghan's move into the hospitality sector while slamming her husband. Izzard stressed that Meghan was focused on revamping her image after her controversial exit from the Royal Family, believing she was focused on the future, unlike her husband. "Harry's still stuck in the past and trying to settle scores. She is looking ahead, forging this brand," he claimed. The brand expert further applauded Meghan for attempting to make herself into "a star hostess" and "Californian royalty who makes her guests feel welcome." Reports noted the Duchess of Sussex had trademarked her As Ever brand for "hospitality services," which could include places to stay, the "provision of food and drink," and temporary lodgings. Early this month, sources shed light on Harry and Meghan's Summer plans, claiming the couple were looking forward to relaxing after a stressful couple of months. The Blast shared that their plans included fun events, such as a possible trip to Napa for wine tastings. Harry and Meghan also considered visiting Big Sur and other parts of Northern California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Sources noted the Duchess of Sussex wanted to see a close friend in Colorado, but she and her husband had a potential trip to Canada on the table. Additionally, they contemplated spending the holidays in cottage country north of Toronto. Insiders noted that when the couple eventually decided on a place, they would spend quality time with some of their close pals. They had reportedly extended invitations to David Foster and Katherine McPhee. Will Prince Harry and Meghan's latest PR move drive a deeper wedge between them and the Royal Family?
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Harry and Meghan have hired 'divisive' PR head who oversaw mortifying Royal programme that showed Diana's ghost and Harry as a Nazi: Shock move revealed in full by ALISON BOSHOFF
Prince Harry and Meghan have turned to the PR executive who was responsible for promoting Netflix 's controversial drama to manage their public image. In a stranger-than-fiction twist it can be revealed that Emily Robinson, announced last week as their new 'director of communications', was in charge of the programme from series three to six.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's shock move that twists the knife in Royal Family feud: 'It's almost beyond belief'
Of all the people they could have chosen, Prince Harry and Meghan have turned to the PR executive who was responsible for promoting Netflix 's controversial drama The Crown to manage their public image. In an appointment that appears to twist the knife on the family feud, it can be revealed that Emily Robinson, announced last week as their new Director of Communications, was in charge of the program from series three to six.
